What Is Cor Pulmonale?
Article Sources
- 1. Biswas, Abhishek. Preventing the development of acute cor pulmonale in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome: the first step. Annals of Translational Medicine vol. 4, 7 (2016). doi: 10.21037/atm.2016.03.18
- 2. Howlett, Jonathan G. Cor Pulmonale. Merck Manuals Professional Edition (2020). https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/cardiovascular-disorders/heart-failure/cor-pulmonale
- 3. Leong, Derek et al. Cor Pulmonale. MedScape (2019). https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/154062-overview
6. Complications
Many symptoms of cor pulmonale evolve into complications that require additional treatment. For example, the tendency to faint often poses a risk of injury, especially when it occurs without warning. Edema of the legs interferes with walking, and swollen hands can lead to problems with manual dexterity.3Leong, Derek et al. Cor Pulmonale. MedScape (2019). https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/154062-overview
Passive hepatic congestion is a more serious complication of cor pulmonale. It occurs when blood builds up in the hepatic parenchyma cells, leading to a potentially dangerous enlargement of the liver. Hypoxia due to a lack of oxygenated blood can also lead to brain damage and eventual death.3Leong, Derek et al. Cor Pulmonale. MedScape (2019). https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/154062-overview
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